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LESSER 
STARS 




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LESSER STARS 

By 
Fanny de Groot Hastings 




PUBLISHED BY 

WILLIAM EDWIN RUDGE 

NEW YORK 



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COPYRIGHT, 1919 

BY 

FANNY DE GROOT HASTINGS 



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<5 Foreword 

^ A tiny star took its unnoticed flight 
From Heaven to-night. 

Within the home of Jupiter and Mars 
Small heed is paid to any lesser stars. 

It fled to earth to hide its humble head, 
But earth, receiving it, was comforted. 

My verse may covet Heaven above ; 
Grant, only, that it bring earth love. 



CONTENTS 




Foreword 


5 


Contents 


7 


The Morning Star 


9 


The Gift 


10 


To a Firefly- 


11 


Substance 


12 


Rainbows 


13 


Reality 


14 


Common Things 


15 


To a Paper Cutter 


16 


Blue 


17 


Activity 


18 


Essence 


19 


Some Winter Lavender 


20 


Forever 


21 


Inspiration 


22 


The Outriders of Spring 


23 


To the Giver of All Good Gifts 


24 



As Prodigals My Thoughts Go Home 25 

Light of the World 26 

The Pure in Heart 27 

Highlights 28 

Lighter of Lamps 29 

King of Kings 30 

When These Come Back 31 



CONTENTS— Continued 



Our Trust 


32 


Swords 


33 


Wings 


35 


Wings of the Morning 


36 


To the Foreign Legion 


37 


Listen ! 


38 


To the Army of Occupation in 




Germany 


39 


The Spirit of God 


40 


1492—1919 


42 


Hands 


43 


The New World 


44 



THE MORNING STAR. 
Christmas, 1917. 



Only the shepherd eyes 
Could bear the shining skies 
Of Bethlehem. 

When the star shone out 
Upon a world of doubt 
And sleeping men, 

Only the pure in heart 
Could see the heavens part 
Before Christ's hem. 

To-day, oh men of earth 
Who think the Second Birth 
Is still afar, 

Redeem your first mistake, 
Watch, with hearts awake 
And doors ajar. 

Lift up your eyes ! 
There, in the riven skies, 
The Morning Star! 



THE GIFT. 



To capture and hold fast one gem 
From Heaven's splendid diadem 

Invisible to earthly eyes, 

To give to men this God-like prize 

In word or paint or music tone, 
And comfort them — this gift alone 

Would pay for my earth's pilgrimage, 
Nor could I ask a fairer wage. 



10 



TO A FIREFLY. 

{To Mrs. T ) 



Tiny bearer of the spark, 

Could we as consecrated be 

Men would have light enough to see 

There really isn't any dark. 



11 



SUBSTANCE. 

Our castles in the air 
Shall lift their domes 
When mortal homes 

Have crumbled and grown bare. 

Fair dream and bright ideal 

Brushing the skies, 

Your prophet eyes 
Have glimpsed the real. 



12 



RAINBOWS. 

As sunshine heals with rainbow wings the stormy sky, 
So God shall wipe away all tears from every eye. 



13 



REALITY. 



We measure the distance from Pole to Pole, 
But who can measure the length of Soul? 

We know the size of the heart of man, 

But the heart that is Life no hand can span. 

We count the miles to the stars above, 
But who can fathom the depths of Love? 

Oh man, with your science exact and profound, 
Thank God that Reality cannot be bound 1 



14 



COMMON THINGS. 



'I cannot write of this or that," 

The little poet cries, 
The subject is too stale, too flat 

For me to improvise." 

Pray God may give our vision wings, 
And open wide our eyes 

To see that even common things 
Were made in Paradise. 



15 



TO A PAPER CUTTER. 



I had been blind for empty ages; 
Now, from the living heart of the pages 
Bared by your blade to set me free, 
Truth has looked out, and I can see. 



16 



BLUE. 



I think there is no other hue 
That satisfies the heart as blue. 

The blue that gardeners so prize 
To make their flower-paradise; 

The blue of every tiny pool 

That lies so still, so clear, so cool; 

Transparent blue of summer skies, 
That lifts and crowns and glorifies. 

Oh endless blue of airy nights, 
Of open spaces, clean delights, 

Expand this narrow heart of mine, 
And make it half as true as thine. 



17 



ACTIVITY. 



With mighty effort Dawn ploughed through the rich nighl 
Heaving its dark heart as the ploughman the clay 

Wide in her wake were deep furrows of fertile light. 
Then man came out to sow the shining seeds of da) 



18 



ESSENCE. 

Let India keep her lilied drifts, 
And France her poppied fields ; 
To me one perfect blossom yields 

All of creation's gifts. 



19 



SOME WINTER LAVENDER. 

I had not hoped for this sweet shower 
When gardens yield but memory 

Or expectation. Purple flower, 

You built a fragrant bridge for me, 

To span the chill 'twixt fall and spring, 

And make my little world to sing. 



20 



FOREVER. 



Born of a wiser, ampler mind 
Than that which animates mankind; 

Untouched by doubt, unchecked by years, 
Without maturing hemispheres ; 

Unhurried by the lips that pray 
To frame perfection in a day; 

Forever is God's gentler time 

To make the humblest life sublime. 



21 



INSPIRATION. 

* 

How still and quiet the streams and brooks, 
How pure and silent the white earth looks; 

Like a holding of breath or a listening ear, 
This winter, holy time of the year; 

Till in answer to prayer the hand of spring 
Releases the beauty in everything. 

Oh turbulent heart, be still and know, 
For a season rest as the silent snow, 

Wait till you touch the infinite source, 
Then, strengthened anew, resume your course. 

In the spring of your growth you shall flow agaii 
And freshen the thirsty desert plain. 



THE OUTRIDERS OF SPRING. 



To-day at dawn I sallied forth 

With the outriders of spring; 

Soared with every feathered wing 
Flying north; 

Sniffed a freshness in the air; 

Felt the sunbeams on my face, 

And a kindly warming grace 
Everywhere. 

Now the papers prophesy 

Cold and frost and wintry wind ; 
If to-morrow be unkind 

What care I? 

I have been adventuring 

For a brief but golden day 
With the forerunners of May, 

With the outriders of spring. 

Courtesy of the Sun Dial. 



TO THE GIVER OF ALL GOOD GIFTS. 



Too shallow far these phrases are 
To thank for fresh anemonies. 
Within my heart's immortal banks 
Must start the quickened root of thanks 
To grow you blossoms fair as these. 



24 



AS PRODIGALS MY THOUGHTS 
GO HOME. 



As prodigals my thoughts go home, 

My wandering thoughts that far did roam. 

In wantonness and revelry 
They spent their rich legacy; 

From desert plain and tempest sea, 
Now penitent they go to Thee. 

Oh Love, receive these truant ones, 
Thy lost and found and youngest sons. 



25 



LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
"St 

Soulless a colored window 
But for the morning light 

Lifting its hidden splendors 
Out of a starless night; 

Man but an outlined image, 

Veiled his transcendent grace, 

But for the inner splendor 
Shining behind his face. 

Visible bond of freemen, 

Touch of immortal flame, 

Grave on my palms and forehead 
Thine indelible name. 



THE PURE IN HEART. 



Blessed are the pure in heart, 
The pure in heart whose hands can part 
The garments of unrighteousness, 
And fashion man a seamless dress; 
Who tread through night a shining way, 
And leave behind the trail of day; 
Whose feet with fearlessness are shod, 
Because their eyes see through to God. 



27 



HIGHLIGHTS. 

Each common thing 

Has its highlight; 
Winter its edge of spring, 

Night 
Its oriole wing 

Of dawn, 
And the black bowl 

A fingerprint of white 
For soul. 

Straight from His shimmering sky 
Into the dark 
That I knew, 
Love at His anvil let fly 
The luminous spark 
That is you. 



28 



LIGHTER OF LAMPS, 



You lit my lamp, and bade me keep it clear ; 
Why should I wish to hold your presence here ? 

Were you to linger longer where you are 
The world would shine the less for one, lost star. 

Unbarring doors and gates, I fling them wide, 
Grateful you paused although you may not bide. 

Along your pathway shall new splendors start, 
Sufficient this bright certainty, my heart. 



29 



KING OF KINGS. 



No more from darkened wall to wall 
And down the Royal Palace hall 
Shall stones repeat the lackey's call: 
"Make way for the king." 

From hearts swept clean of fleshly things 
There rise majestic, spirit wings 
To brush aside these earthly kings. 
Make way for the King! 

Oh men, awake, rejoice and sing! 
To-day Love comes on holy wing; 
Go crown the only living King. 

The king is dead; long live the King! 

Courtesy of the Junior League Bulletin. 



30 



WHEN THESE COME BACK. 



Their eyes have seen His image face to face, 
And since, they wear a new and shining grace. 

Their hands have "touched and handled things unseen/ 
Their hands will evermore be strong and clean. 

Of hearts that give their utmost offering 
They have made dwelling places for the King. 

Out there where towns in ruins lie 

They have built temples that shall never die. 

Lo! every plain or trench or muddy mound 
Where these make sacrifice is holy ground. 

When these come back to you, oh world once old, 
They shall transform your very dust to gold. 



31 



OUR TRUST. 



Jesus knelt in Gethsemane 

To lift the world to the feet of God. 
A lonely, deserted vigil he kept ; 
His disciples slept 
Prone on the sod. 
'Could ye not watch one hour with me?" 

Others have gone for Love's own sake 
To keep a vigil with sacrifice. 

To-morrow they'll come to us sanctified 
And stand at our side, 
And call us thrice. 
Pray God we may answer : "Wide awake !" 



32 



SWORDS. 



Though I must be a stay-at-home, 
I yet would use as valiantly 
The gleaming sword of Liberty 

As they who fight beyond the foam. 

There is as great a battle-ground 
Within the hearts of us who stay 
As they will find who yesterday 

Embarked in vessels eastward bound. 

A greater need to strike and slay 

(If righteousness is soon to win) 
The selfishness that lurks within 

Than to destroy insensate clay. 

I, too, have heard the rolling drum 
That calls each to his battlefield ; 
I take my helmet and my shield, 

And answer fearlessly: "I come!" 

I pray to consecrate my sword 
Within the borders of this land, 
To wield it with as clean a hand 

As they who carried theirs abroad; 



That when I hear returning feet, 

The feet of men who've fought and won, 
With sword unsheathed beneath the sun, 

I, too, may march the shining street. 



34 



WINGS. 



"They shall mount up with wings as eagles." Straight 
And strong and free they mount and fly, 
No air too rarefied, no sky too high — 

They bear the key to that far shining gate ; 

For Love and Sacrifice and Honor, too, 

On tireless wing go with them where they go, 
And who shall say there is no added glow 

Across the clouds they brush as they pass through? 

"They shall mount up with wings as eagles." Shell 
Is impotent to bring these down to earth, 
Whose eyes have swept the height of man's estate — 
Untrammelled space ; they must forever dwell 
Close to the deathless light that gave them birth, 
And bade them mount as eagles, free and straight. 



35 



WINGS OF THE MORNING. 
(To An Aviator) 



When his wings failed him, think you it so strange 

That he should change 

Them for a better pair? 

Wings of the Morning, swiftly, tenderly bear 

This young Knight 

To the High Court of Light ! 



36 



TO THE FOREIGN LEGION. 



A Legionnaire was seen to salute the 
statue of Washington that stands on 
the Treasury steps. — The Reporter. 

No mortal time can make the spirit mute 
That moved you to so gallant a salute. 

It is a deathless spirit that makes one 
All fearless men like you and Washington. 

Accept the tribute of his outstretched hand 
As symbol of our love, heroic band. 

Courtesy of the New York Sun. 



LISTEN! 



To-day there is a tendency 

To celebrate the victory 

Of Right with banner and with horn. 

We who have bravely, nobly borne 

The quaking of this world of ours, 

And seen the whirlwind fell its towers, 

And still looked on with quiet eyes 

Because we trusted there would rise 

Out of supremest sacrifice 

At last the pearl of greatest price — 

We should not waste the fruit of prayer, 

Nor fill the pregnant, vibrant air 

With blatancy; after the flame, 

The devastating wind, there came 

A still, small voice; His healing word 

In the deep silences is heard. 



TO THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION 
IN GERMANY. 



Symbolic soldier of the free, 

Go, mount your guard in Germany. 

Leave, if you will, your gun behind, 
But take to every darkened mind 

The torch it lost, the torch you found 
Upon the nations' battle-ground; 

Take to blinded German eyes 
This vision of a freeman's prize, 

And to the ears that still can hear, 
The gospel of your faith make clear. 

Symbolic soldier of the free, 
They need your light in Germany. 

Mark well whom your command is from : 
"Go, occupy until I come." 

Courtesy of the New York Sun. 



THE SPIRIT OF GOD. 



'Twas the Spirit of God that won the war 
That shattered our century-bolted door, 
And raised you up from your bed of ease, 
And bore you forth on the militant breeze. 

'Twas the Spirit of God that won the war, 
That dwelt in the heart of the least of you, 
Tender and strong and true, 
That stamped on your soul a selfless creed, 
Making your own, humanity's need, 
Bidding you go in your fearless youth, 
Clasping the two-edged sword of Truth. 

'Twas the Spirit of God that won the war, 

That stood by your side in the trench at night, 

That soared with you in your morning flight, 

High and high, 

Brushing your wings across the sky, 

'Twas the Spirit of God that made you fly, 

Fearless and free as air — 

It went with you everywhere. 

Over the sea and over the land, 

Hand in hand 

With you whom He sent 

Christ went. 

40 



'Twas the Spirit of God that won the war, 
Greater than gun, greater than mine, 
Greater than all because divine, 
Spirit of David and Joan of Arc, 
Flame as a spark 

Burning a path of light through the dark, 
Bringing order from chaos and night, 
And to our eyes, light. 

Mighty as ever, the valiant few 

Led by You — 

Spirit of God that won the war, 

You who are wise and compassionate — 

Not the legions of lust and hate. 

Brothers who stand at the open gate, 
Pause and pray, 

Lift up your hearts in thanks to-day, 
Lift up your eyes, the world is free, 
Free for you and free for me. 
He walks abroad whom we adore — 
The Spirit of God that won the war. 



41 



1492 — 1919- 



Columbus' sail is folded to its mast, 

And here, instead, are wings for the first, fast 

Flight o'er the deep. Rising, they brush aside 

The little laws of time and space and tide, 

And bring the earth's remotest limits face 

To face: to-day there is no distant place, 

No boundaries remain, for air is free, 

And Mind has said : "There shall be no more sea." 

Columbus, hail your sons so near the sky; 
If you had failed, where were their faith to fly ? 



42 



HANDS. 



We have done what our hands have found to do, 
We have done it with prayer and might, 

All have helped to see it through 

Because we have known it was right. 

Oh many the idle hands before, 

Foreign to toil and pain, 
But during the four, long years of war 

We learned to use them again. 

And the work of our hands was balm to our soul, 
We labored as friend and friend, 

Shoulder to shoulder, facing the goal, 
We strove to the very end. 

And now that the end is here, Lord, 
We wait for your new commands; 

Silence the gun, sheathe the sword, 
But consecrate our hands. 

Give them a task that is worthy of Thee, 

Sure of a rich increase, 
Lord, who in darkness made us to see 

That service is joy and peace. 



43 



THE NEW WORLD. 
Christmas, ipi8. 



'Where two or three together claim 
The power and presence of my name, 
Lo! there am I." 

The sacrificial fields of France 
Were closer to his healing glance 
Than the high sky. 

No miracle to Love is this — 
That Heaven should stoop the earth to kiss 
And sanctify; 

That Heaven should stoop and lift earth up 
That Christ might pour His loving cup 
Of living wine 

On all the devastated land, 
Until it bloom beneath His hand 
Like Palestine. 

Oh nations, guard His gift to you — 
A world washed clean and fashioned new, 
A holy shrine. 

Where angel feet have lately stood 
There kneel in one vast brotherhood. 

44 



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